From: andres@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Andy C)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Once and Future Starship - Scene 1
Keywords: ASCII Text Version
Date: 9 Aug 91 23:29:20 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs

STAR TREK: "The Once and Future Starship" 8/9/91 - SCENE 1              1.



                            SCENE 1


FADE IN:


EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE-D (OPTICAL)

Scene is of deep space interrupted only by a distant nebula or
other touch of color, not the same area of space as the TEASER,
but very similar.  Suddenly the Enterprise, designated NCC-1701-
D, enters the scene.  Camera closes on the ship as it passes.
We hear the voice of JEAN-LUC PICARD, Captain of the Enterprise-
D as the OPTICAL continues.


                           PICARD (V.O.)

          Captain's Log, Stardate 44635.3.  We are
          exploring a section of space never before
          open to Federation vessels.  This sector
          was first claimed by the Klingon Empire and
          they are just now admitting that they do
          not have the time, resources or inclination
          to explore it.   The Enterprise has
          therefore been given permission to explore
          here.


INT. READY ROOM

Twenty three years later, aboard the Enterprise-D, PICARD sits
in his ready room pondering some abstract mathematical problem
in a rare moment of ease.  Suddenly the voice of his First
Officer, Commander RIKER sounds over the room speakers.


                           RIKER (O.S.)

          Captain, we are receiving a signal from a
          point five light years ahead along our
          present course.

PICARD replies keeping his eyes on his terminal while he
speaks.


                           PICARD

          What is the nature of the signal, Number
          One?


                           RIKER (O.S.)

          It seems to be a Federation code, Sir, from
          a starship.
                    (a beat)
          Some sort of automated beacon.

RIKER has PICARD'S complete attention now.


                           PICARD

          But, that's impossible, Number One, we are
          the first Federation starship to travel
          into this sector.


                           RIKER (O.S.)

          I know, Sir, but that's what our
          instruments say it is.


                           PICARD

          What vessel registration is it signaling?


                           RIKER (O.S.)


          NCC-1701-C, USS Enterprise.

PICARD is startled out of his seat, he STANDS, tugs at his
uniform and WALKS around his desk toward the door to the Ready
Room.


                           PICARD

          On my way, Number One.

PICARD CROSSES the room as the camera follows, the DOORS OPEN
and he steps out onto the bridge of the ship.


INT. MAIN BRIDGE

REVERSE ANGLE on PICARD as he steps out of his ready room.
RIKER is STANDING at center bridge in front of the command
chair, he follows Picard with his eyes as he approaches.  WORF
is at TACTICAL and DATA is at OPS.  SUPERNUMERARIES as needed.

PICARD WALKS over to his command chair and sits as he delivers
his line.


                           PICARD

          Exactly what type of signal are we
          receiving, Number One?

 RIKER takes up a position to Picard's right and NODS to WORF.


                           RIKER

          Mr. Worf.


                           WORF

          The signal is of the old style sub-space
          run length encoding.  It is simply
          signaling position.
                    (a beat)
          It could be a recorder marker.  Coding is
          consistent with the era of the Enterprise-
          C.


                           PICARD

          I see, thank you, Mr. Worf.
                    (a beat)
          Mr. Data, what do you know about the
          Enterprise-C?

RIKER smiles and sits in his chair next to Picard.  He knows
the answer and knows Data will give more detail than anyone is
willing to listen to, but he remains silent.


                           DATA

          The USS Enterprise, Navel Construction
          Contract 1701-C, commissioned on stardate
          20134.5, first and only commander Captain
          Rachel Garrett.
                    (a beat)
          Reported missing near Klingon space twenty
          three years, six months and five days ago.
          It is believed that the ship came to the
          aid of a Klingon outpost at Norendra III
          that lies 10 parsecs distant in the
          furthermost reaches of the Klingon
          Exploration Zone.
                    (a beat)
          The Klingon outpost was attacked by
          Romulans and saved at the last minute by an
          unknown vessel.  Two thirds of the
          population of the outpost were killed,
          including the Governor General.  The
          Enterprise was last known to be in the
          area, so it is likely that she was the
          mystery vessel.  However, because of the
          destruction on the outpost and the
          subsequent withdrawal from the planet by
          the Klingon's, records are not complete.
          Witnesses from the General's staff have
          testified that a Federation vessel did in
          fact come to their aid and drew the
          Romulans away, but they could not
          positively identify it as the Enterprise.
                    (a beat)
          Star Fleet considers her missing in action,
          and presumed destroyed.  The incident is
          widely considered to have been pivotal in
          the . . .

Half way through Data's speech Picard begins to rub his head in
dismay.  Riker's smile widens.  Riker decides to take pity on
Picard and jumps in with some specific questions.


                           RIKER

          Thank you, Data, a most thorough report.
                    (a beat)
          What is our ETA to the beacon at our
          current speed?


                           DATA

          ETA to beacon location is 12.75 minutes, at
          current velocity.


                           PICARD

          Where is the beacon located, Mr. Data?


                           DATA

          Beacon is emanating from within Star System
          KEZ591, directly ahead along our present
          heading, Sir.
                    (a beat)
          Long range sensors now indicating that the
          source of the beacon transmissions is in
          orbit around the third planet of that
          system.


                           RIKER

          In orbit!


                           PICARD

          Are you thinking what I am, Number One?


                           RIKER

          Could there actually be survivors on that
          planet?  To have survived all these years
          would have taken an enormous amount of
          discipline and perseverance.


                           PICARD

          Not only that, but if they survived the
          battle well enough to make it out here, why
          didn't they try to make it back to the
          Federation?

Riker nods, he had not thought of that twist!


                           PICARD (CONT.)

          Data, any additional readings on the source
          of the beacon, can we tell if it is a
          vessel or a recorder marker?


                           DATA

          We are not close enough for that
          determination, Captain.  But, sensors do
          show that the source of the beacon is in a
          stable orbit approximately two-thirds of
          the planetary diameter in apogee.

Riker and Picard exchange a knowing look.


                           RIKER

          Standard orbit?


                           DATA

          It is within nominal parameters of a
          standard orbit, Sir.
                    (a beat)
          Readings on KEZ591 III coming in now,
          Captain.  Sensors indicate it is a Class M
          planet.


                           DATA (CONT.)

                    (a beat)
          Entering short range sensor range now,
          Captain.


                           PICARD

          Can you get me a picture, Data?


                           DATA

          Yes, Sir.


                           RIKER

          On screen, Data, extreme magnification.

DATA works his console.  CAMERA SHIFTS to a shot from upstage
toward the MAIN VIEWER.  The view screen shows a shot of DEEP
SPACE and then waivers to show a PLANETARY SCENE.  The PLANET
is BROWNISH in color with WHITE CLOUDS and some LARGE BODIES OF
WATER but no oceans.  A BRIGHT SPOT can be seen traversing the
planet.  The VIEW SHIFTS again to a CLOSE UP of the PLANET and
the Enterprise-C.  The ship looks badly damaged with a great
deal of black scoring and patches on it's exterior.  PICARD and
then RIKER STAND and APPROACH the forward control stations for
a closer look.


                           RIKER

          My God, they actually made it!

Camera shifts to reverse angle close-up on Picard.


                           PICARD

          Not by much from the look of her.  It seems
          that Star Fleet was hasty in their
          assessment.
                    (a beat)
          Worf, are there any life signs on the ship?

Camera SHOT WIDENS to encompass PICARD, RIKER and WORF at his
station.


                           WORF

          No life signs are registering, Sir.
          However  . . .
                    (a beat)
          There are life signs registering on the
          planet itself.  No indication of how many
          or of what type, but definite life signs
          nonetheless.


                           DATA

          Approaching KEZ591 III, Sir.

Riker and Picard move back to there seats and sit.


                           RIKER

          Take up a standard orbit, Mr. Data.  Bring
          us in parallel to the orbit of the
          Enterprise-C.


                           DATA

          Aye, Sir, standard orbit.


EXT. SPACE - THE TWO ENTERPRISES (OPTICAL)

Camera shows the Enterprise-C in orbit around the planet.  The
Enterprise-D approaches along a parallel course and slows to
match speed with the Enterprise-C.


INT. MAIN BRIDGE

As we just saw them.  Shot on DATA then widen to a MEDIUM SHOT
of the bridge crew after Data's speech.


                           DATA

          Standard orbit established.  We are in a
          parking orbit, 500 meters from the
          Enterprise-C.



                           RIKER

          Worf, pinpoint those life signs and give us
          a detailed reading.


                           WORF

          Aye, Sir.  Scanning now.
                    (a beat)
          Reading a small village with a few tens of
          life signs.  Definitely humanoid readings,
          Sir.  A few refined metals, otherwise it
          looks fairly primitive.   Minimal power
          generation.


                           PICARD

          Picard to Doctor Crusher, have a medical
          team standing by for a possible medical
          emergency.


                           CRUSHER (O.S.)

          Crusher here.  Aye, Captain.


                           PICARD

          Hail the surface, Mr. Worf, perhaps they
          still have working communications.


                           WORF

          Hailing frequencies open, Sir.


                           PICARD

          This is the  . . . a Federation starship,
          Captain Jean-Luc Picard commanding.   Do
          you read us?


                           WORF

          Reply coming in, Sir.
                    (a beat)
          It's audio only.

A female with a hauntingly familiar voice can now be heard
replying to the hail.  There is a considerable amount of
static.


                           YAR

          We read you, Captain Picard.

Picard and Riker exchange a glance, they recognize the voice
but cannot quite place it.  Data suspects who it is, but his
logical mind does not permit him to speculate since he is not
certain.


                           PICARD

          Who am I speaking too?


                           YAR

          That's not important right now, Captain,
          and I'm afraid it would take a little bit
          of explanation.


                           PICARD

          We are standing by to transport a relief
          party to your location, are you in need of
          assistance?


                           YAR

          Negative, Enterprise.  Request that you
          beam us up so that we can explain our
          situation.  Two to beam up from these
          coordinates.


                           WORF

          Coordinates confirmed, Sir, we have a lock.


                           PICARD

          Very well, we will beam you up shortly.
          Picard out.


                           RIKER

          She said Enterprise, Sir.  A slip of the
          tongue?


                           PICARD

          I don't know, Number One, but I think we
          will find out.
                    (a beat)
          Worf, Number One, with me.  Mr. Data, you
          have the bridge.

PICARD, RIKER and WORF DEPART for the transporter room to greet
their guests.   Camera follows them until they ENTER the TURBO
LIFT stage right.


INT. TRANSPORTER ROOM (OPTICAL)

O'BRIEN works at the console as PICARD and party ENTER the
room.  They take up positions in front of the console, Picard
up stage from Riker and Worf.  Worf is closest to the forward
pad of the transporter platform.


                           PICARD

          Energize!

O'BRIEN WORKS the CONSOLE to energize and TWO FIGURES begin to
TAKE SHAPE on the platform.  TASHA YAR appears on the platform,
a middle aged Yar.  Besides her is RICHARD CASTILLE, apparently
in his early fifties.    Yar sees Worf and her eyes go wild.
She LUNGES at Worf.


                           YAR

          Captain, look out, a KLINGON!

Although she is now middle aged, she is still in great shape.
She manages to take a stunned Worf down to the floor and pin
him.  Riker moves in and tries to pull her off Worf.  He is
still not aware it is Tasha Yar.


                           RIKER

          No, that's Worf, he's part of our crew!

Worf is stunned, he can't believe this woman has attacked him.
He couldn't even bring himself to defend himself, since he
could not make himself hit a middle aged woman.


                           WORF

          Cease!  Do not make me injure you!

Castille and Riker finally manage to pull Tasha off Worf, she
is helped to her feet by Riker, and Worf gets himself up.


                           YAR

          You know him, Commander?


                           RIKER

          Of course I do, he's our security chief.

Of course she does not know Worf, since she is a war timeline
Tasha, and not the Tasha they knew.  She is irate that a
Klingon is on the ship that she loved, that she gave up to help
Castille and the Enterprise-C.  Riker finally gets a good look
at the woman and is stunned by what he sees.


                           YAR

          How could a filthy Klingon become our
          Security Chief?

Worf growls at Yar,  he still has not made the connection.


                           RIKER

          You bear a striking resemblance to a woman
          who once served on this ship!

Worf finally notices the resemblance and is shocked into
silence.  Picard is still stunned by the whole incident, moves
in closer to Yar and finally manages to speak.


                           PICARD

          Tasha, can it really be you?


                           YAR

          Yes, Captain, but I may not be the same
          Tasha Yar you remember.
                    (a beat)
          You see, I've been living in my past for
          over twenty three years!

Camera closes on Picard's face as dramatic music plays in the
background.


FADE TO BLACK.


                        END OF SCENE 1.